Tuesday, October 30, 2018

ACR Technical Services Inc., Newport News, Va. (FA4890-19-D-1001); APRO International Inc. Vienna, Va. (FA4890-19-D-1002); Goldbelt C6 LLC, Chesapeake, Va. (FA4890-19-D-1003); Science and Management Resources Inc., Pensacola, Fla. (FA4890-19-D-1004); and Yulista Support Services LLC, Huntsville, Ala. (FA4890-19-D-1005), have been awarded a ceiling $473,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Air Force Enterprise Contracted Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratories Services II. This contract provides Air Combat Command, the Air National Guard, and other major command and combatant command customer management, supervision, personnel, equipment, tools, materials and other items necessary to perform equipment calibrations by professional and technical metrologists. Work will be performed at various Air Force bases in the continental U.S. and outside the continental U.S., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2028. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and five offers were received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $1,300,000 will fund the current requirement. Headquarters Air Combat Command Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 10/30/18)

General Dynamics Information Technology Inc., Fairfax, Va., is being awarded a $54,436,930 modification (P00023) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (W15QKN-15-D-0001). This modification provides integrated logistics support for multiple foreign military sales (FMS) customers using purchased Navy defense articles including weapon systems, various aircraft, and other components procured under FMS programs. Work will be performed at Patuxent River, Md. (52 percent); Philadelphia, Pa. (11 percent); Jacksonville, Fla. (2.5 percent); Pensacola, Fla. (1.5 percent); Mechanicsburg, Pa. (1 percent); various locations within the continental U.S. (4 percent); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (28 percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2019. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 10/30/18)

ST Engineering and the city of Pensacola signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for additional maintenance, repair and overhaul hangars at Pensacola International Airport, adjacent to a 173,500 square-foot hangar that opened this summer. ST Engineering will invest $35 million in the $210 million project. The MOU was signed Oct. 27 in Singapore. Attending the signing was Mayor Ashton Hayward, Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh and FloridaWest chief executive officer Scott Luth. Under the agreement, ST Engineering and the City of Pensacola will develop the MRO complex over four years after the formalization of definitive agreements. The 655,000 square-foot design-to-build complex will consist of three state-of-the-art widebody aircraft hangars and an administration building. Since opening in June 2018, the current facility has already redelivered 25 aircraft. (Sources: ST Engineering, Pensacola News Journal, WEAR-TV, 10/29/18) Previous: Aero projects funding get preliminary OK; VT MAE has grand opening; Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor Newsletter, August 2018, page 1

Monday, October 29, 2018

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. – Setting up a Community Redevelopment Agency or business improvement district at the Fort Walton Beach Commerce and Technology Park could generate money to help pay for improvements, including more buildings, said City Manager Michael Beedie. The park is home to about 70 businesses, ranging from Fortune 100 companies such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin to local-based businesses like Props Craft Brewery and Fort Walton Machining. “When you have an aging asset and you’re not tuned into competitive realities, a great jewel can pass you by if you don’t try to chart a new path,” said Nathan Sparks, executive director of the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County. Beedie and Sparks said much of the park’s long-term future will be guided by its ongoing master plan, a draft version of which will be presented to the City Council on Nov. 13. Beedie anticipates the plan will be finalized by the end of this calendar year. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 10/28/18)

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Members of the Florida Defense Support Task Force toured Tyndall Air Force Base last week to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Michael. The base sustained considerable damage, but officials say Tyndall should be up and running by January. Jay Trumbull, state representative and chair for the task force, said the significant need at Tyndall will be met with a significant structural rebuild. The task force, which has an interest in all military installations in the state, offers support on a state level. Rep. Neal Dunn said the rebuild will mean a brand new Tyndall, updated to the needs of the 21st century. Currently around 35 percent of infrastructure on base has significant damage. (Source: Panama City News Herald, 10/28/18) Previous

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded $8,700,187 for cost-plus-fixed-fee order N0001919F0276 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0020). This order provides support services to design a non-Department of Defense (DoD) participant strategic facility in support of the F-35 aircraft. Work will be performed in Kansas City, Mo. (72 percent); and Fort Worth (28 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2020. Non-DoD participant funds in the amount of $8,700,187 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 10/23/18) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

The growing aerospace industry is facing a crisis with the aviation workforce failing to keep up with demand. Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi, all seeking to increase their aerospace footprint, are all pushing efforts to improve their own training pipeline. So far, the aviation industry is getting what it needs, but they are rightfully concerned about the future. The Gulf Coast Aerospace Newsletter takes a look at the training pipeline in the four states in a special 36-page issue. (Source: Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor Newsletter, 10/23/18)

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

More than a dozen F-22 Raptor fighters were damaged when Hurricane Michael hit Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The F-22s were trapped on the ground because they were in various states of maintenance and repair and had to ride out the Category 4 hurricane in hangars. As many as 17 of Tyndall’s F-22s might have sustained damage or been destroyed. Each F-22, a single-engine, single-seat fighter, costs $150 million. The rest of the F-22s based at Tyndall were sent to Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (Source: Popular Mechanics, 10/15/18) Meanwhile, headquarters of the First Air Force has shifted to Virginia because of the hurricane. The First Air Force is responsible for air security of the United States. The command will now be run out of Langley Air Force Base in Hampton. While the move is not permanent, it is expected to remain in Virginia for at least the rest of the year. (Source: Daily Beast, 10/15/18) Previous

Monday, October 15, 2018

More than 80 percent of the fleet of F-35 fighter jets in the United States and around the world have cleared engine inspections and are now approved for flights, the Pentagon said on Monday. Last week, all U.S. and international F-35 fighter jets made by Lockheed Martin were grounded so that fuel tubes could be examined in the wake of a September crash in South Carolina.The Pentagon said it is working closely with United Technologies Corp's Pratt & Whitney, maker of the F-35's engine, to procure more parts to minimize the time it will take for remaining repairs. Jets found without issues were cleared to return to flight. The Air Force, Navy and Marines have more than 240 of the single-seat, single-engine fifth generation flighters. (Source: Reuters, NBCNews, 10/15/18) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center. Previous

Friday, October 12, 2018

The Pentagon grounded all 245 U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marines F-35 fighters on Thursday as part of an ongoing investigation into a jet that crashed in Beaufort, S.C., late last month. Eleven international partners who participated in the program also grounded most of their F-35s. A Navy aircraft mishap board is charged with overseeing the investigation, and they will be conducting a fleet-wide inspection of a fuel tube inside the engine of the F-35 aircraft, according to military officials. Joe Dellavedova, director of public affairs for the F-35 program, said that they will remove and replace any fuel tubes they suspect might be problematic. Those planes that don't have the problem will be cleared to fly, he said, and they hope to have the inspections completed within 24 to 48 hours. (Source: NBCNews, CNN, 10/11/18) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center. Previous

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. – A team of operators conducted another successful 500-second RS-25 hot fire on the A-1 Test Stand at Stennis Space Center (SSC) in South Mississippi on Oct. 11, the fourth in a series that will extend into 2019. Once again, the hot fire features an acceptance test of an RS-25 engine controller for use on a future flight of NASA’s new Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Four RS-25 engines, firing simultaneously, will provide a combined 2 million pounds of thrust to help launch the new rocket. NASA has been testing RS-25 engines at SSC for SLS use since early 2015. (Source: NASA/SSC, 10/11/18) Previous

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City, Fla., home of F-22 training, took a direct hit from Hurricane Michael and suffered extensive damage Wednesday. No injuries were reported, but according to the base’s official Facebook page trees and power lines were downed and there was significant structural damage. The base was evacuated before the storm with only a skeleton staff remaining when the hurricane hit. The base, 12 miles southeast of Panama City and northwest of hard-hit Mexico Beach, is home of the 325th Fighter Wing and some 600 military families. As is common practice when hurricanes threaten, the base's aircraft were flown hundreds of miles away as a precaution before the hurricane hit. (Source: Stars and Stripes, 10/10/18) Meanwhile, Gulf Power reported Wednesday that during the peak of the Category 4 hurricane, about 26 percent of customers lost power. "The Gulf Power system held strong from Pensacola to Fort Walton Beach," said Gulf Power spokesman Jeff Rogers. "But the hardest hit areas around Panama City may need to be rebuilt from the ground up." (Source: Gulf Power, 10/19/18)

Orbital Sciences Corp., Chandler, Ariz., has been awarded a $791,601,015 other-transaction agreement for the development of a Launch System Prototype for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program. This award is part of a portfolio of three agreements that leverage commercial launch solutions in order to have at least two domestic, commercial launch service providers that meet National Security Space requirements, including the launch of the heaviest and most complex payloads. This agreement requires shared cost investment for the development of the OmegA launch system. Work will be performed in Chandler; Magna and Promontory, Utah; Iuka, Miss.; West Palm Beach, Fla.; Sandusky, Ohio; and Michoud (New Orleans), La., with launch facilities at Kennedy Space Center, Fla.; and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.. The work is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2024. This award is the result of a full and open competition. This agreement will be incrementally funded with fiscal 2018 through 2024 research, development, test and evaluation funds totaling a maximum of $791,601,015. Fiscal 2018 funds in the amount of $109,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Launch Systems Enterprise Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8811-19-9-0002). (Source: DoD, 10/10/18)

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Grand Prairie, Texas, is being awarded a $164,000,000 contract modification (P00034) to previously awarded, sole-source, cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed- fee, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract HQ0147-10-D-0001 for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Field Support Contract (TFSC). This modification will increase the total ceiling value from $561,200,000 to $725,200,000. The contractor will continue to perform the same effort under the general scope of the TFSC, which includes logistics performance requirements, forward stationing for theater support, logistics information capabilities, post deployment software support, product assurance, safety, missile support, security and engineering services. This modification will also incorporate the International Engineering Services Program and Field Surveillance Program activity. The work will be performed in Huntsville, Ala.; Sunnyvale, Calif.; Grand Prairie, Texas; and Troy, Ala.. The ordering period remains from March 25, 2010, through March 31, 2019. This contract was awarded under the sole-source authority pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulations 6302-1, "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements." No additional funds are being obligated by this modification; fiscal 2017, 2018 and 2019 operations and maintenance; and procurement funds will be obligated with execution of future task orders. No task orders are being issued at this time. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, is the contracting activity (HQ0147-10-D-0001). (Awarded Oct. 9, 2018). (Source: DoD, 10/10/18)

Friday, October 5, 2018

NAVAL AIR STATION WHITING FIELD, Fla. – U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col Aaron Brunk turned over command of Helicopter Training Squadron EIGHTEEN (HT-18) to U.S. Navy Cmdr. Kenneth Kerr, during a change of command ceremony Friday at Naval Air Station Whiting Field Atrium. Under Brunk’s leadership HT-18 flew more than 29,000 flight hours in the completion of more than 16,700 sorties, with 217 student aviators successfully completing the Advanced Helicopter Flight Training syllabus and being designated as Naval Aviators during his command tour. (Source: Naval Air Station Whiting Field, 10/05/18)

Brig. Gen. Vincent K. Becklund, who has been selected for the grade of major general, special assistant to the commander, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla., has been assigned as deputy commander, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field. (Source: DoD, 10/05/18)

Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Fla., has been awarded a $390,792,959 firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-incentive-fee contract for Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) lot 16 production for 360 JASSM-extended range, three foreign military sales (FMS) separation text vehicles, one FMS flight test vehicle-live fire and tooling and test equipment. Work will be performed in Orlando and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2021. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. This award uses fiscal 2018 missile procurement funds and FMS funds. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8682-19-C-0009). (Source: DoD, 10/05/18)

Onvoi LLC, De Funiak Springs, Fla., has been awarded a $39,951,581 contract for base operating services at March Air Reserve Base, Calif. This contract provides for all personnel, supervision, equipment, tools, materials, supplies, test equipment, and other items and services necessary to accomplish supply, vehicle operations and maintenance, traffic management, real property maintenance, fuels management, and airfield management. Work will be performed at March ARB and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2023. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and 10 offers were received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,106,974 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Reserve Command Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA4664-19-C-0001). (Source: DoD, 10/04/18)

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., has been awarded a $45,000,000 modification (P00011) to contract FA8681-14-D-0028 for Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) technical support and integration. Boeing will provide JDAM support for studies and analysis, product improvement, upgrades and integration. Work will be performed in St. Louis, and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2019. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 10/03/18)

M1 Support Services, Denton, Texas, has been awarded a $12,047,564 modification (A00032) to contract FA3002-15-C-0006 for trainer maintenance services. Work will be performed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas; and Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., and is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2019. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $76,720,526. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $6,023,939 will be obligated at the time of award. The 82nd Contracting Squadron, Sheppard AFB, is the administrative contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 10/01/18)